20: Renal transplant patients

Antioxidant supplementation and cardiovascular disease in renal transplant patients ($25,935)
A Research grant was made to Dr Jeff Coombes and Associate Professor Rob Fassett for a ‘trial to assess the value of antioxidant supplementation on LDL oxidation in renal transplant patients’.

The leading cause of death in kidney transplant patients is vascular disease. Recent studies suggest that increasing the antioxidant capacity of the blood provides some protection, however, there is very little research available on the effects of this supplementation. This study improves our understanding of the role of antioxidants.

This was a collaborative study involving the Renal Unit and Pathology Department of the Launceston General Hospital, the Centre for Human Movement at the University of Tasmania and the Exercise Science Biochemistry Department at the University of Florida, USA.